The way it was supposed to work, Glencer would deposit the money equally into restricted bank accounts, one for each daughter. She could withdraw funds from the accounts, managed by LAFCU, only with the court's permission.

The money was supposed to be used for major expenses deemed reasonable by a judge. When the children turned 18, they would be given control of the money that remained in their accounts.

But Glencer told court officials she'd received only $250,000, instead of $280,000, Eaton County Sheriff Deputy Zachary Sutfin testified at a court hearing.

And when she was ordered to deposit that $250,000 into accounts for her daughters, she only deposited $120,000, or $60,000 into each account, Sutfin said.

In 2015 and 2016, Glencer received approval to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars to pay for expenses such as school tuition, braces and cars.

In late 2016, LAFCU contacted the court because the credit union suspected Glencer had altered a court order granting a withdrawal from one of the accounts, Sutfin said.

Glencer was supposed to withdraw $7,620 to pay for tuition at Lansing Catholic High School but had changed the court order to read $17,620, the deputy said.

By the time Glencer was removed as conservator of one daughter's finances, the account balance had dropped to $38,604, according to court records.

The other daughter, who turned 18 in 2016, was left with $16,676, records show.

All told, the $280,000 had dwindled to $55,280 in less than three years.

After officials began to question how Glencer handled the accounts, someone identifying herself as Lori Glencer left a voicemail with a court official apologizing for altering the court order, said Sutfin, the sheriff's deputy.

"She thought she could get caught up on some bills, that she was just so far behind and she had planned to put the money back in the account," Sutfin said.

When Lori Glencer was named conservator in 2014, she and her daughters were still "grieving after a suicide," said John Deming, an attorney representing Glencer on the criminal charges. “None of her actions were malicious in nature. She felt what she did was in the best interest of her daughters.”

Ken O'Deen, who was appointed to replace Glencer as conservator, said it's not yet clear how much of the missing money was used for legitimate expenses. Police believe she altered a document more than once, he said.

It's also not clear if LAFCU can be held liable for allowing Glencer to only deposit $60,000 — instead of the $125,000 ordered by the court — into each of her daughters' accounts.

"Whether or not the bank has any liability for allowing Lori to deposit those funds into her personal bank account versus putting them directly into a restricted account... we're pursuing that issue right now but nothing has been filed against the bank," O'Deen said.

Once he finishes analyzing the account records, he could ask the court to recoup money from Glencer, LAFCU or both, O'Deen said.

LAFCU officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Glencer is free on $25,000 bond and currently awaits trial in Eaton County Circuit Court. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.